Chapter 1: The Check-In That Changed Everything
Li Zeyan wiped the sweat off his forehead, staring blankly at the dull lobby clock of the Moonlight Hotel. 8:45 PM. Just over three hours left of his twelve-hour shift, but with the constant stream of guests, it felt like a lifetime.
The hotel smelled like a weird mix of stale coffee, disinfectant, and cheap air freshener. A businesswoman tapped her phone impatiently by the elevator, and a bellhop looked ready to collapse after hauling luggage up seven flights of stairs.
Zeyan slumped behind the front desk, his fingers drumming on the scratched counter as he tried to seem busy. The manager's booming voice came from the office. "Zeyan! Don't forget to check the VIP list for tomorrow!"
He nodded halfheartedly. No one here really cared about him. No family to call, no friends to turn to. Just another part-timer working for minimum wage, barely scraping by.
His phone buzzed, lighting up with a notification from an app he hadn't even noticed before.
Curious, he opened it.
"Welcome, White Fox. Your Check-In System is now active. Please check in to unlock today's reward."
White Fox? He raised an eyebrow. Was this some kind of joke?
The screen showed a map with a blinking dot just a few meters away—right here in the hotel lobby, at a small coffee shop.
Zeyan frowned but tapped the button anyway.
The world blurred for a moment, then his phone buzzed.
"Reward Unlocked: 1/1 Luxury Car Share (20% ownership in NIO)."
A sleek red sports car spun on the screen, glowing under virtual showroom lights.
"What the hell?" Zeyan muttered.
He hesitated, then tapped 'Accept.'
"Mission assigned — Check in to Moonlight Rooftop Bar before 10 PM to unlock next reward."
Zeyan scoffed. "A mission? Seriously?"
But something inside him stirred.
He grabbed his jacket and headed for the elevator.
---
The elevator creaked upward, the air growing colder as it climbed. The rooftop door opened onto a dazzling city view—neon lights flickering like stars below.
A small crowd gathered at the Moonlight Rooftop Bar, jazz music drifting softly from the speakers.
Zeyan scanned the room, feeling like a fish out of water in his worn jeans and hoodie. The patrons looked like they owned half the city.
His eyes caught a table with a "Reserved" sign. The card read: NIO VIP Lounge.
His heart thudded.
He tapped the check-in button again.
His phone buzzed.
"Reward Unlocked: 1/1 Physical Skill Upgrade — +5% Strength."
Zeyan flexed his hand experimentally. No sudden Hulk transformation, but he felt a little… different. Maybe stronger.
Before he could think more, a sleek black car pulled up outside. The driver opened the door, and out stepped a sharply dressed man with cold eyes and a silver watch worth more than Zeyan's rent for a year.
"You're Li Zeyan?" the man asked, voice sharp as ice.
Zeyan nodded cautiously.
"I'm Fang Junwei, Regional Director of NIO. Heard you just got a stake in my company." He smiled thinly. "Welcome to the game."
Zeyan's pulse quickened.
His phone buzzed again.
"New mission unlocked: Attend NIO Gala in 3 days."
Game on.